Without rainfall, Auckland's storage lakes sit at just 44.5 per cent full which is more than 30 per cent below their usual levels.

It's not doomsday though.

Auckland won't run out of water any time soon thanks to an arrangement made back in 2002 which saw a pipeline installed which runs from the Waikato River.

That pipeline can supply around a third of the city's needs but if levels continue to fall, the dregs become harder to treat. It also means more rainfall would be needed throughout winter to refill the lakes for next year's summer.

“If we don’t do enough now and if we don’t get enough rainfall, the coming summer… I just don’t even want to think about it," Watercare CEO Raveen Jaduram said earlier this month.

"So we have to do what we can do today because that’s all we’ve got."

Enter, water restrictions

The Auckland Council's response to the situation has been the introduction of city-wide water restrictions.

Currently, there are two stages of restrictions in place. Auckland has entered Stage 1 this morning.

Stage 1 simply means people cannot use an outdoor hose or water blaster at home and commercially, the use of an outdoor hose or water blaster isn't allowed unless it is for a health, safety, emergency or biosecurity reason.

Sports fields, plants or paddocks cannot be watered also unless they have an irrigation system that is fitted with soil moisture or rain sensors.

The dos-and-don'ts of Stage 1

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Mitch Boocock began by opening his home to those needing a shower, then he had a bigger idea.
Source: Seven Sharp

Watercare has updated what can and can't be done during their water restrictions and it may surprise some Aucklanders with activities such as washing your car or watering your garden still allowed at home - with rules.

Boiled down, Aucklanders can continue to do most activities as long as it does not use an outdoor hose or water blaster.

In the case of washing your car, a bucket of water is allowed. A hose to wash it down after isn't though.

A watering can is allowed to be used for the garden but a hose or sprinkler isn't.

Watercare is still urging Aucklanders to be responsible with those guidelines though as excessive use of water could mean tighter restrictions or Level 2 will be required. That means baths are currently allowed too but seriously not recommended.